Overview & Reviews

Subaru is a Japan-based automaker whose recent offerings are both practical and fun to drive. The automaker crafts vehicles whose all-wheel-drive powertrains and available turbochargers facilitate sharp performance. Incongruously, most Subaru vehicles are discreet and versatile enough to serve as competent family haulers, and the brand is known for boasting some of the best crash test scores in the automotive world.

In the early 1950s, a collection of Japanese companies joined to form Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. Its automotive division came to be known as "Subaru," which is a Japanese word meaning "unite." In 1954, the first Subaru car was unveiled. Powered by a four-cylinder engine, the P-1 (its name was later changed to the Subaru 1500) boasted a front-wheel wishbone-type independent suspension and was the first car to feature a monocoque body designed in Japan. Sales were suspended due to challenges associated with funding and support, but Subaru soon resolved its difficulties and rolled out a sibling for its first-born; the 360 was introduced in 1958. Dubbed the Ladybird because of its ladybug shape, the compact 360 proved immensely popular, and remained in production for 12 years.

The 1960s saw the launch of the first Subaru truck. Based on the Subaru 360 platform, the Sambar minitruck offered both compact dimensions (a must for Japan's crowded, narrow streets) and an extremely spacious cargo bed. The truck was soon joined by the Sambar Light Van, a compact van built for both commercial and leisure use. In 1966, the automaker rolled out the 1000, a car that holds the distinction of being the first vehicle to use the drive technology that is the linchpin of current Subaru models: a front-wheel-drive system coupled to a horizontally opposed engine. This setup offered many advantages in handling and performance. By the end of the decade, Subaru North America had been founded, and exports to the United States had begun.

Subaru started the '70s with the introduction of the GL/DL (called the Leone in other markets). The sedan (it was soon joined by a coupe and a station wagon) broke new ground by offering four-wheel-drive (4WD) capability. Up until then, 4WD had only been offered in off-road-oriented vehicles. Coveted for use in the snow and in hilly regions, the GL and DL also benefited from the increasing popularity of outdoor sports like skiing and fishing, and went on to become the world's top-selling 4WD vehicle. In 1977, Subaru rolled out the successful Brat; based on the GL, it was a small car-based pickup whose cargo bed featured a pair of jump seats. More and more, young people were seeking a vehicle designed for an outdoorsy lifestyle, and the rugged Brat was perfectly in step with their needs.

Subaru continued to offer versatile but slightly quirky vehicles through the '80s. It developed the world's first electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. The technology made its debut later that decade in a new Subaru, the tiny Justy economy car. By the end of the '80s, Subaru had given birth to the Legacy, which replaced the outgoing GL/DL (now called the Loyale in the U.S.). Available as both a wagon and a sedan, the Legacy placed an emphasis on performance.

The automaker made a name for itself in motorsports in the 1990s by being the first Japanese marque to win the Manufacturers' title at the World Rally Championship three years in a row. The Subaru family continued to grow during this decade, with the addition of the high-performance SVX, the popular Legacy-based Outback wagon and the sporty Impreza. In the late '90s, General Motors acquired a 20 percent stake in parent company Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) with the aim of strengthening its presence in foreign markets. This affiliation didn't last long, however, and Toyota currently owns a small percentage of FHI.

Today, Subaru's lineup includes everything from compact trucks to family-friendly wagons to high-performance cars such as the WRX STi. The brand is hailed as a top pick for enthusiasts seeking vehicles that offer a shot of utility with their performance thrills.

User Reviews:

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  no.4 - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By mcduffj - July 16 - 2:00 am

  This is my 4th subaru (3 Legacies before). Loved them all, but this one is the most fun Ive had since my old Mazda RX2.

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  Good Balance - 2003 Subaru Outback
  By cb85 - July 16 - 2:00 am

  H6-3.0 sedan is a nice balance between AWD utility, and near luxury features. Smooth quiet ride, decent performance, rock-solid Subaru reliability, nice features like heated leather and sunroof, and most importantly, AWD for mid 20K is hard to beat.

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  04 legacy anniversary edition. - 2004 Subaru Legacy
  By L.Nork - July 15 - 9:46 pm

  Some fit and finish problems notably the weather stripping coming loose. Also had to replace sunroof because of wind noise, all done by dealer with no hassle. Otherwise very dependable. Only expense has been gas, tires and brakes. No repairs.

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  My 1st Subie - 2008 Subaru Impreza
  By kuling23 - July 14 - 3:33 pm

  This car is great. One of the best deals if your looking for something in the 20-21k range. Very comfortable and very quiet ride. Suspension should be a little titer on corners but other than that, I love the car. Going on 4k miles now and have avg 24-25 consistently. Had one snow storm and the car didnt flinch once. The vdc works great and kept the car calm under snowy cornering. The seats fold flat down and make trips to lowes and hd a sinch. And u can hook up roof racks to the top with the pre-cut sockets on the rails.

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  Great Car - 2005 Subaru Impreza
  By Greg Case - July 13 - 10:46 pm

  The car is fabulous. It is the best bad weather car I have ever driven. It is very stable in the rain and snow. It does require snow tires for snow use, as the OE summer tires have no snow tread. The performance of the car is great. It responds to inputs similar to a racecar. The tires, suspension, and steering have little compliance, which makes it so responsive. The engine has plenty of low end torque and good top end power. I was surprised at just how much better the engine and handling is compared to the standard WRX. The engine alone is probably worth the price difference, and the handling makes it even better yet. Its handling is close to neutral, and the steering responds to throttle.

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  Ok, but could be much better - 2010 Subaru Outback
  By MRO - July 13 - 9:20 pm

  My very first Subaru; with 7,000 miles at this point. Performs really well but a few issues came up: for oil change, I was told about the risk of aftermarket gasket that may leak at a dealer in Fort Collins where 2 gaskets were installed instead of one causing leakage (very frustrating); another issue is long start in the cold mornings, possibly needing resetting of computer (only happens in CO, so altitude may be the cause? - does not make total sense as this is fuel injection); back windows fog to frequently in cold. Average roughly 22-23mpg in city drive and 22-25 highway (I have roof racks on). Drives well on snow.

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  I love this car!!! - 2005 Subaru Outback
  By Jill - July 12 - 6:06 am

  I was in the market for a wagon with AWD that was safe and fun to drive. After extensive research, I realized the Subaru Outback was the only way to go. I drove the Limited XT and there was no turning back. The car is a dream to drive and excellent in the snow. Bottom line- I love the car.

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  WRX STi - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By mduplin - July 11 - 2:00 am

  Can not beat the performance of the vehicle for the price. The fact that it is all wheel drive makes it great in the snow as well, as long as you swap out the street tires for snowies.

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  I love my 2004 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - 2004 Subaru Impreza
  By Aaron Davis Subie - July 11 - 2:00 am

  I first drove one of these cars back in August 2003. It took me two and a half months to locate the one that I wanted (Platinum Silver) and get the dealer to sell it to me below MSRP. But the wait was completely worth it, and still would have been even if I had had to pay MSRP. It is a great car, fun to drive, and amazing in the rain... so sure footed! Performance is great... my dad has a 2003 Corvette and the STI hangs with it no problem and if it is raining, I leave him sitting there spinning his wheels.

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  Good basic utility SUV under $20000 - 2009 Subaru Forester
  By Excellent Vehicle - July 10 - 5:16 pm

  Bought this after test driving CR-V and RAV4. Did not want to pay more than $20,000 for a new car and needed an SUV. New 2009 style was ok and 4wd system is very good. Mileage is as good if the mechanics tune it right. After 1st service mileage got better; after 2nd it went down and 3rd now has gotten better again. Got 30 mpg to Chicago and again to Cincinnati recently from Rochester, NY. Gets about 22 around town and overall around 25 mpg. have had no rattles or mechanical problems. Quality is excellent; have had Toyota mostly until now. Only thing I dont like is that it seems a bit sensitive to high/cross winds; could be the tires though.